Elvira (song)
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| “Elvira” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Oak Ridge Boys from the album Fancy Free |
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| Released | March 1981 (U.S.) | ||||
| Format | 7" | ||||
| Recorded | 1981 | ||||
| Genre | Country | ||||
| Length | 2:39 (single edit) 3:45 (album version) |
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| Label | MCA | ||||
| Writer(s) | Dallas Frazier | ||||
| Certification | Platinum (RIAA) | ||||
| The Oak Ridge Boys singles chronology | |||||
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"Elvira" is a song written by Dallas Frazier. Originally recorded and released by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, the song later became a famous country and pop hit by The Oak Ridge Boys. A Number One hit on the Billboard country music charts, The Oak Ridge Boys' version is considered one of their signature songs.
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[edit] Song history
Songwriter Dallas Frazier penned "Elvira" in 1966 and included it as the title track of an album he released that year. A number of recording artists, most notably Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, recorded the song through the years, to varying degrees of success.[1]
[edit] Oak Ridge Boys cover
In 1978, alternative country recording artist Rodney Crowell recorded his cover of "Elvira," which became a very minor hit that year. However, Crowell's version did have its fans — most notably, The Oak Ridge Boys. In 1980, when the band began planning for their upcoming album Fancy Free, they decided to cover the song as well.[2]
Released in March 1981, "Elvira" quickly climbed the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart, and became their fourth No. 1 hit that Memorial Day weekend. Their rendition — complete with Richard Sterban's deep voiced vocals on the chorus ("ba-oom papa oom papa mow mow") — would also become their biggest pop hit, peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 that August.
"Elvira" was certified platinum for sales of 2 million units by the Recording Industry Association of America [2], a distinction that, for years, it shared only with "Islands in the Stream" by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.
[edit] Single and album edits
The single version fades out after the first key change, more than a minute earlier than the album version (which features two more key changes).
[edit] Sources
[edit] References
[edit] See also
- Whitburn, Joel, "Top Country Songs: 1944-2005," 2006.
- Whitburn, Joel, "Top Pop Singles: 1955-2006," 2007.
| Preceded by "Seven Year Ache" by Roseanne Cash |
Billboard Hot Country Singles number one single May 30, 1981 by The Oak Ridge Boys |
Succeeded by "Friends"/"Anywhere There's a Jukebox" by Razzy Bailey |
